Paste-tube dispenser and enclosure



Sept. 27, 1955 w. A. MESSER PASTE-TUBE DISPENSER AND ENCLOSURE Filed Jan. 1'7, 1952 M/ZZM/ Q777M4M/ IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent Ofifice 2,718,984 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 PASTE-TUBE DISPENSER AND ENCLOSURE Wilbur A. Messer, Beaver Dam, Wis.

Application January 17, 1952, SerialNe. 266,920 3 Claims. or. 222-100 My invention pertains to a dual-purpose device which embodies the facilities of a dispensing contrivance and storage enclosure for a flexible tube of the familiar type in which tooth-paste, shaving-cream and similar pastelike substances are generally obtainable.

With the intention of completely identifying the nature of the aforementioned tube, it may be further described as usually being constructed of thin, flexible metal constituting the body of the tube, with a relatively rigid tab extending across and closing what shall be designated as the tube bottom. At the opposite, or top end, is a truncated cone surmounted by a small, circular, threaded neck which is provided with a restricted aperture.

It is intended that this dispenser-enclosure shall be mounted on a flat, vertical surface, i. e., the wall of a dwelling room or work-room or to a strip of decorative trim framing a wall opening, in a location most convenient for frequent use. p

The invention is manually operated and basically simple iinconstruction, in assembly of its various parts for operation and in the dispensing action for which it is mainly intended.

The primary object of the invention, as indicated, is to provide a compact, efficient dispensing device for pastelike substances contained in flexible tubes. A maximum of the paste contained in the tube can be expelled for use thus effecting an economy, this result being accomplished with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide an individual storage enclosure for the aforementioned tube, most conveniently located for the use of both children and adults, the simplicity of operation making it especially desirable for use by the former.

Still another object is to eliminate the multiplicity of motions attendant upon the use of paste tubes stored in the typical bathroom cabinet or similar storage compartment. Such procedure is familiar to practically everyone whereas, in contrast, when the proposed dispenser is employed it is reduced to three simple actions, i. e., opening a closure well, dispensing the desired amount of paste by a partial rotation of a hand wheel, than returning the closure well to a closed position.

Another object is to prevent indulgence in the widespread tendency to squeeze paste tubes in the middle,

rather than at the bottom as intended, thereby reducing waste of the tubes contents and frequently avoiding the possibility of domestic discord.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a combined dispensing device and storage enclosure for a flexible paste tube, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical cross-section, the section being taken from front to back in a plane equidistant from the two sides.

Reference being had to the drawing by numerals, the basic element of my invention is a substantially rectangular box-like structure, comprised of a front component 1 and a rear component 2, the two components, when .as'= sembled, completing the tube enclosure. For practical purposes of construction and to accommodate auxiliary features of the invention, component 2 should be somewhat greater in depth than component 1, all other principal dimensions being as nearly identical as possible thereby forming a symmetrical unit when the two are joined. Projecting downwardly from the upper, inner edge of component 1 is a short flange 3 parallel to and extending across the interior width of the enclosure. Along the upper, inner edge of component 2 is a shallow, horizontal groove 4 which extends across the interior width of the enclosure and is so constructed and located that it can accommodate flange 3 in assembly of components 1 and 2. Components 1 and 2 have in their inner, vertical edges an identical shallow recess 5 extending almost the full length of said edges. In assembly of aforementioned components, recesses 5 combine to form a long, narrow slot in each sidewall of the enclosure.

In the respective bottom surfaces of components land 2 is a semi-circular opening 6, located with its center on the inner edge and equidistant from the sides of the components. Said openings 6 have downwardly projecting short flanges 7, peripherally located about the opening. in assembly, openings 6 combine to form a circular, flanged opening through which the threaded neck of the contained tube will protrude. To look components 1 and 2 into a rigid enclosure a circular locknut 8 with an upwardly projected circumferential flange 9 is provided. Said locknut 8 has a centrally located, threaded opening 10 which is intended to fit the threaded neck of the enclosed tube and to be turned tightly thereon. Flange 9 encompasses the combined flanges 7 when turned on the neck of the enclosed tube, thereby uniting components 1 and 2 and serving the additional function of holding the paste tube securely in position. Opening 10 of locknut 8 permits extrusion-of paste contained in the tube and is encircled by a downwardly projecting boss 11 to facilitate removal of extruded paste cleanly. i

Projecting from the bottom surface of component 2 are two identical hinge lugs 12 extending inwardly from the rear edge and at right angles thereto, disposed slightly apart on either side of a center line relative to the center of opening 6. Each hinge lug 12 is provided with a small circular opening 13 into which pivot hubs 14 of cam hinge 15 are to be inserted thus attaching closure well 1610 component 2 and permitting partial rotation of same.- Said closure well 16 is circular, enclosing the boss 11 andwoperr ing 10 of locknut 8 when in closed position and has, on its front surface, a thumb tab 17 to facilitate opening thereof. Closure well 16 is positioned and integrally united to cam hinge 15 by hinge arm 18 and is maintained in closed and open positions by pressure applied to the two acting surfaces of cam hinge 15 by an offset pressure arm 19 which extends between hinge lugs 12 at its free end and is attached at its opposite end to the bottom surface of component 2, as by a screw.

On the vertical center-line of rear wall of component 2 are located two small openings 20, through which screws may be inserted and turned freely when attaching component 2 to the aforementioned flat, vertical surface. Extending horizontally across the enclosure from side to side, at right angles thereto and protruding very slightly beyond outer surfaces of said sides, is a slender cylindrical rod 21 permanently terminated at each end by a preferably round hand wheel 22. Rod 21 is provided with a longitudinal slot 23 which bisects that portion contained within the enclosure. Rod 21 and handwheel 22 assembly are removable and maintained in position when in plumb motion by sidewall slots formed by the combined recesses 5.

In the various views of the drawing, numeral 24 indicates the body of the contained tube and is represented by dashed lines. Similarly, numeral 25 indicates the tab at the tube bottom, 26 the tube shoulder and 27 the threaded neck of the tube as it projects into the bottom opening.

Referring to the use of the invention and manner of assembly of its various parts, the following procedure is outlined:

Component 2 is first securely mounted in the desired location by screws through the openings 29. Next, the metal tab 25 of tube 24 is inserted into the slot 23 of rod 21 and handwheel 22 is given approximately one revolution to lock tab 25 in slot 23. After removing the screw cap with which the tube was originally provided, the tube 24 is placed in an upright position in component 2 with tube neck 27 resting in bottom opening 6 and rod 21 in recess of each sidewall. Component 1 is then attached by inserting flange 3 into groove 4 and by turning locknut 8 onto tube neck 27, encompassing the bottom flanges 7, thereby drawing the tube down tightly and securely locking the components together. Closure well 16 should be in open, or down position, during the preceding operations and may now be moved to closed position over the locknut 8.

To dispense contents of tube 24 it is only necessary to push the closure well 16 to open position, rotate a handwheel 22 a partial turn to eject the desired amount of paste upon a brush or whatever implement is employed to apply the paste and then return closure well 16 to closed position.

The rod 21 and handwheel 22 assembly can be moved rotatably downward until virtually the entire contents of the paste tube 24 has been expelled.

My invention will, it is believed, be clearly understood from the foregoing without further explanation.

It is to be understood however, that the invention as described is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the score of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A substantially rectangular box-like structure within which a flexible paste-tube may be enclosed, composed of two components which constitute the front and rear portions of the enclosure, said components being dimensionally identical in height and width but said rear component being somewhat greater in depth, said rear component having a horizontal groove at its upper inner edge, said front component having at its upper inner edge a short flange extending downwardly and across the interior of said enclosure which fits snugly into said horizontal groove, said front and rear components each having in its bottom surface a semi-circular opening whose center is located on the inner edge of said bottom surface and equidistant from the sides of said respective bottom surfaces, said openings having downwardly projected peripheral flanges, a circular locknut encompassing said flanges, said locknut, when turned onto the threaded neck of the enclosed paste-tube uniting said front and rear components into a rigid structure, said locknut having a downwardly projecting boss encircling a central opening, the back wall of said rear component having on its vertical centerline several small circular openings, said openings making possible the attachment of said component, as with screws, to a flat vertical surface.

2. A substantially rectangular box-like structure, within which a flexible paste-tube may be enclosed, composed of two components which constitute the front and rear portions of the enclosure, said components being dimensionally identical in height and width but said rear component being somewhat greater in depth, said rear component having a horizontal groove at its upper inner edge, said front component having at its upper inner edge a short flange extending downwardly and across the interior of said enclosure which fits snugly into said hori zontal groove, said front and rear components each having in its bottom surface a semi-circular opening whose center is located on the inner edge of said bottom surface and equidistant from the sides of said respective bottom surfaces, said openings having downwardly projected peripheral flanges, a circular locknut encompassing said flanges, said locknut, when turned onto the threaded neck of the enclosed paste-tube uniting said front and rear components into a rigid structure, said locknut having a downwardly projecting boss encircling a central opening, said rear component having two hinge lugs located on its bottom surface, adjacent to the back edge and at right angles thereto, each of said lugs being positioned equidistantly from a center-line common with the center of said bottom openings and encompassing locknut, said hinge lugs having between them a cam hinge maintained in place by pivot hubs which protrude from the sides of said cam hinge and fit into matching openings provided in said hinge lugs, said cam hinge having permanently connected to it a hinge arm terminated by a circular closure well, said closure well, when in closed position, encompassing said locknut boss and being provided on its outer forward surface with a thumb tab, said composite cam hinge, hinge arm and closure well assembly being partially rotatable and maintained in either closed or open position by pressure applied to the acting surfaces of said cam hinge, an offset pressure arm attached at its stationary end to said bottom surface of said rear component, as by a screw, providing necessary pressure, said pressure arm being located directly above cam hinge and hinge arm assembly and extending toward the back of said rear compartment between said hinge lugs and in constant contact, at its free end, with said cam hinge.

3. A substantially rectangular box-like structure-within which a flexible paste-tube may be enclosed, composed of two components which constitute the front and rear portions of the enclosure, said components being dimensionally identical in height and width but said rear component being somewhat greater in depth, said rear component having a horizontal groove at its upper inner edge, said front component having at its upper inner edge a short flange extending downwardly and across the interior of said enclosure which fits snugly into said horizontal groove, said front and rear components each having in its bottom surface a semi-circular opening whose center is located on the inner edge of said bottom surface and equidistant from the sides of said respective bottom surfaces, said openings having downwardly projected peripheral flanges, a circular locknut encompassing said flanges, said locknut when turned onto the threaded neck of the enclosed paste-tube, uniting said front and rear components into a rigid structure, said structure having in each of its two sides a long narrow slot, said slot being formed by identical shallow recesses in the inner vertical edges of said front and rear components, a rotatable circular rod extending horizontally across the interior of said enclosure and protruding through said slots and slightly beyond the outer surfaces of said sides, a handwheel permanently terminating each end of said rod, a narrow longitudinal slot bisecting that portion of said rod contained within said enclosure, said rod and handwheel assembly being removable from said enclosure for attachment to the metal tab of the paste-tube intended to be placed within said dispenser, locking of tab into said rod slot being accomplished by inserting tab in said slot and rotating a handwheel approximately one revolution, continued rotation of either handwheel in the same direction employed in the locking motion producing the dispensing force, said rod and handwheel assembly being maintained in position inside said enclosure, when in plumb motion, by the limitations of said vertical side slots through which said rod protrudes.

No references cited. 

